Sewing machine desks



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' ,erromvsr 1957 R. E. VIENOT SEWING MACHINE DESKS Filed Sept. 26, 1955 United States Patent SEWING MACHINE DESKS Randall E. Vienot, Lakewood, Colo. Application September 26, 1955, Serial No. 536,491

3 Claims. (Cl. '312-24'1) This invention relates 'to what might be termed a sewing machine desk, and has for its principal object the .provision of 'a neat, attractive piece offurni'ture which can be used as an o'rdinarydesk or which can be quickly and easily arranged to receive 'a sewing machine of the portable type having a work table positioned above a base plate, such as marketed under the names of Elna, Vigorelli, Necchi, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination desk and sewing table which when used as a desk will have a completely free, smooth open top with no interference of any kind and which when used as a sewing machine table will support the work table of the sewing machine in alignment with the desk top so that the goods being worked upon will lie fiat over the entire desk top and over the work table of the sewing machine without interference of any kind.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efiiciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved sewing machine desk arranged for use as a desk;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view looking upwardly on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through one extremity of the desk, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the desk arranged to receive and support a sewing machine of the Elna type.

Sewing machines of the Elna type are portable machines having a base plate, adapted to be rested upon any suitable supporting surface. A horizontal work table is supported above the base plate in spaced relation thereto so that material being worked upon may be passed beneath the work table. Such a machine is indicated in broken line at 13 in Fig. 6 with its base plate at 15 and its work table at 14.

The improved sewing machine desk comprises a fiat, smooth table top 10, around the periphery of which, is a depending skirt board 11. The top 10 is notched at one extremity to receive a slide board 12. The shape of the notch, which will be herein designated as a slide opening, and the shape of the slide board 12 corresponds to the shape of the work table 14 of the portable sewing machine 13.

A tongue 16 is formed around the periphery of the slide board 12 and this tongue engages in a groove 17 formed around the notch in the extremity of the table top to securely support the slide board therein and maintain it in perfect flush alignment with the table top 10. The outer extremity of the slide board is provided with a depending end apron 18 which aligns with the skirt board 11 so that, when the slide board is in place, it will be substantially invisible. The apron 18 provides a convenient hand grip for withdrawing the slide board from its receiving notch.

One extremity of the table top 10, preferably the left extremity, is supported upon a cabinet 19 provided with suitable drawers 20 and with shelves concealed by a cabinet door 21. The drawers 20 and the door 21 may be provided with suitable drawer pulls 22. The cabinet is supported upon leg structures 23.

The other extremity of the table top, preferably the right extremity, is supported upon an X-frame formed from two crossed leg members 24 rigidly mounted at their upper extremities on mounting blocks 25 which are secured to the bottom of the table top at each side of the slide opening therein. The leg members 24 extend downwardly in crossed relation and terminate in suitable 'floorengaging feet 26.

A cross member 27 extends horizontally between the upper portions of the leg members 24. The cross member 27 is spaced below the bottom of the table top 10 and may consist of an ornamental polished brass rod or tube, if desired.

A U-shaped bracket 28 is hinged at its extremities from the bottom of the table top 10 upon suitable hinges 29. The hinges 29 are positioned at opposite sides of the slide opening in the top so that the bracket 28 will extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of the slide opening. The bracket 28 may be folded upwardly so as to lie fiat against the bottom of the table top, as shown in Fig. 4, and may be swung downwardly to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 6. When swung downwardly, the horizontal portion of the bracket 28 aligns with the cross member 27.

When it is desired to use the invention as a sewing machine table, the slide board 12 is withdrawn and the bracket 28 is swung downwardly to the vertical position. The sewing machine 13 is then slid into the slide opening over the top of the cross member 27 until its base plate 15 rests upon the depending bracket 28. The machine will be firmly supported by the cross member 27 and the bracket 28 with its work table 14 completely filling the slide opening in the table top 10. Thus, the material being Worked upon can be conveniently slid across the table top 10 and across the work table 14 of the sewing machine without interference.

To return to the desk use, it is only necessary to withdraw the sewing machine from the extremity of the table, fold the bracket 28 against the bottom of the table top and replace the slide board 12. All semblance of a sewing machine table is completely concealed and an attractive, convenient desk is provided.

Certain of the popular portable sewing machines of the class described are provided with a knee control rod such as indicated in broken line at 30 in Fig. 6. The cross frame construction of the legs 24 provides a clear opening to allow the operator to swing the knee sidewandly against the knee control rod.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A convertible fiat top desk and sewing machine table comprising a table top member, a depending cabinet structure forming a support for said top at one extremity thereof and a pair of spaced legs attached to the bottom of the opposite extremity of the table top forming a support thereof at said opposite extremity, the space between said cabinet structure and said legs being sufficient for afiording leg space for the user of the structure as a flat top desk; said table top being formed with a longitudinal slot opening at the extremity thereof supported by said legs, a removable slide member fitting into said slot and closing the same normally so as to complete the table top for normal use as a fiat top desk; a U-shaped hanger hinged to the bottom of said top in a position to straddle said slot, and a horizontal cross bar attached to said legs disposed in substantial horizontal alignment with the base of said U hanger, said cross bar and the base of the U hanger being disposed at a level adapted to form a support for the base of a portable sewing machine, when said slide is removed, said slot being of a size and shape to register with the flat top portion of a portable sewing machine; said hinged U-shaped hanger being adapted to be swung up into position to lie against the bottom of the table top, when the slide is inserted in the slot to render the top in condition for use as a fiat top desk.

4 2. A convertible flat top desk as defined in claim 1 wherein said table top is provided with a depending skirt about its perimeter and said removable slide is formed with a depending portion at its outer extremity to register with said depending skirt and to complete said skirt formation about the table top perimeter when said slide is inserted in position, said depending portion of said slide also constituting a hand grip for pulling the slide out of the slot.

3. A convertible flat top desk as defined in claim 1, wherein said slide is formed with tongues projecting from the longitudinal edges thereof to interengage in grooves formed in the mating longitudinal edges of the slot in the table top to hold the slide securely in inserted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,172,605 Bourn Sept. 12, 1939 2,565,456 Peets Aug. 21, 1951 2,579,934 Krasuey Dec. 25, 1951 2,642,325 Hinsken June 16, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 376,582 Great Britain July 14, 1932 

